The Sleeping Devil Vol. 3 - Chapter 23 - A Place to Return

Ten days had passed since leaving the castle. It seed that snow would soon fall in the northern forest.

While taking walks with Ciel near the spring or getting battered in sword training, ti passed in the blink of an eye.

"Sheriel, would you accompany for a bit during Licht's examination?"

Although examinations were regular even at the castle, this was the first ti I had been present since the initial discussion.

The examination room had an atmosphere of a calm adult's study, much like Hers's room in the castle. Licht was already inside, unaware of my arrival, looking surprised when our eyes t.

Sitting across from Licht at a low round desk, Hers and I engaged in conversation about this journey.

"Licht, these past few days must have been tough with an unfamiliar journey. How was the outside world for you?"

Ah, so Licht also hadn't known the world beyond the temple and the castle. Yet, during the journey, there hadn't been a chance to talk, and I couldn't provide any support. It was regrettable.

"It was a series of surprises, and... I found it a bit frightening."

"What did you find frightening?"

"Every ti I realised how little I knew, it made anxious about how I should live from now on."

Licht, expressing his anxiety, seed calr than when he confessed himself as a sinner a few months ago.

"Do you still have those dreams?"

"I... I think I haven't had them for a while. Maybe I've just forgotten."

"Then, what about recalling life at the temple?"

"Hers calmly continued his questions, and Licht responded calmly as well. It seed like Licht had been continuously facing himself for these past few months.

"Hmm, then I'll borrow your abdon for a mont," Hers said, placing his hand on Licht's lower abdon. It was probably to confirm the impurities ntioned the other day.

"You seem fine now. The residual impurities that were accumulating seem to have vanished. What did you think when you saw the monsters during the recent subjugation?"

"I felt a little... sorry for them. They were no longer alive, their appearance and presence were nacing, almost like a gathering of unpleasant things that overlapped with myself. I feel sorry thinking that while I was saved, those monsters will never be saved."

During that subjugation, Licht stood until the end. Amidst senior knights collapsing, I thought it was amazing how he endured without being consud by negative emotions.

"What about Sheriel?"

Suddenly asked, unprepared to answer, I spoke my thoughts.

"I don't think I was particularly thinking about anything during the subjugation. But when I heard that their souls were disappearing, I thought there was no salvation. Perhaps the purification magic circle is a tribute to the vanishing souls."

"The magic circle?"

Ah, so Hers didn't know about the magic circle generated during the purification ritual. Without enhancing his sight to perceive magic, he would only see it as a re radiant light.

I recalled that solemn magic circle.

"It felt like apologising for not being able to return the souls that had been consud by sins to the gods, but also releasing those souls from suffering. It was a story without hatred or aversion, just sadness and beauty."

"A story... Sheriel, it seems like you'll continue purifying monsters without any issues. What about Licht? As a knight of Beriard, subjugations are inevitable. Can you still wield your blade, even when reminded of your past self?"

Licht looked at once, then nodded in agreent. "Yes. It's about witnessing the soul's final monts. Thinking about it that way, I feel I need to beco soone deserving of that. I can understand the pain of impurity a little."

While Licht didn't accumulate impurities at the temple, living in the castle caused a bit of a backlash. Feelings he was supposed to have had at the temple, like insomnia, sudden trance-like states, or being startled by the sound of dishes breaking, seed delayed. That's why Hers continued examining him.

"Sooner than I thought. Maybe Sergio was right; perhaps being a knight suited you."

"Hers-sama... What about ?"

"Ah, there's no need for you to stay here. Just return to the castle with Sheriel and continue your knight training. It should be fine."

It seed Licht was planning to stay in the northern region. I thought it might be better for him to stay closer to Hers, but since Licht seed happy, I kept quiet.

"Licht's anxiety about finding a place is proof of accepting freedom. Even birds won't take flight if there's no ground to land on. Licht already has a place to return to. Gradually, try flying as you please."

"Yes... Thank you very much."

Hers promised regular check-ups in the future and then took out a docunt.

"How about attending the Noble Academy next term? You'll be a year behind, though."

"Is that really alright for soone like ?"

Hesitant, yet with sparkling eyes.

Though Licht was registered as a slave, his noble registration was completed. Since there was an educational system at the temple, there shouldn't be any issues with admission. He ntioned not being good at studying, but attending the academy seed to make him happy. Since I myself entered the academy as a final-year student, it was reassuring.

"Then, let's get you a tutor before your enrollnt. It'll run parallel to knight training, similar to life at the academy. It's better to get used to it sooner."

"Thank you so much."

Crossing his hands tightly over his chest, he expressed gratitude to Hers almost like a prayer. When the conversation ended, Hers ntioned having so paperwork to do, so Licht and I left the room together.

"Licht, don't you dislike studying? Older brother always makes a fuss about wanting to quit."

"Didier-sama is exceptional. Besides, I often heard about the Academy even at the temple. To , he's soone I admire and envy."

"You studied at the temple too, right?"

"Yes. The educational priests gathered the children and taught history and theology. Language studies focused more on ancient languages, and I never learned foreign languages."

While at the temple, theology covered myths and the structure of the gods and the world. Perhaps they delved deeper into these discussions at the temple. Next ti I study magic, I'll invite Licht to join.

After two leisurely days, we decided to return to the castle. It passed by so quickly; I really want to co back and visit in the sumr.

After finishing packing and entering the dining hall where everyone gathered, Sergio and Julius were talking about sothing.

"Hey, is it alright to ask for that much?"

"I don't particularly mind?"

"Please, do mind it. Especially when it cos to Sheriel..."

I thought it might be another unreasonable request from Sergio, and I felt a sense of unease when my na was ntioned. I hope they stop assigning everything to .

"Father! Please don't trouble Teacher too much. What if Teacher abandons us?"

"It's just a small request. Can't we set up a one-ti teleportation gate? Going back over a few days would be troubleso, right?"

Indeed, it was about magic requests. It would be nice to return via the teleportation gate. Although I'm glad to be here, travelling isn't particularly enjoyable.

"Is it possible to teleport such a large number of people?"

"If done in several parts, it's possible. If you help, that is."

"I want to help!"

In the end, as always, I was lured into assisting with magical tasks, supporting Sergio's impractical demands.

There's a place in the mansion resembling an altar where they drew the teleportation circle.

"What material is your staff made of?"

"This is attributeless sacred wood. It's not very efficient, but it's better than having biased attributes."

"Even the teacher can't find materials that match his attribute? Then getting the Forest Lord's horn must have been incredibly lucky."

"Will the teacher also make a staff with the Lord's horn?"

"No, it seems it's slightly different even with the sa all-attributes characteristic. I thought I'd make it into a versatile magical instrunt."

Teacher can make magical instrunts too?

While discussing, the teleportation magic circle was completed. The large magic circle that could send wagons would be disposed of after everyone was transported. It seed wasteful, but there wasn't ti to take security asures.

Julius and I infused magic into the magic circle and started sending servants and wagons one after another.

"Is the magic still okay?"

"Yes, I don't feel any changes in my condition, although I can't gauge the remaining amount."

You can sense the amount of magic used in your body, but I wonder how they confirm the original magic amount supposedly in the source.

"Seems like the magic amount is increasing again. When it reaches about 70%, you start to have an idea."

So, I haven't used up even 30% yet. During the Baptism ritual, I wasn't accustod to sensing magic, so I don't know how much I used. For now, I just need to pay attention to the amount used in one go.

Lastly, Sergio, Didier, and I were sent by Julius.

"After disposing of the circle, I'll head there too. Keep Noah nearby."

"Okay! Thank you very much!"

Enveloped in the light of the magic circle rising from underfoot, as Julius's figure seed to waver, the next mont, the familiar sight of the castle stood before my eyes.

Seems they linked it to the garden altar as the wagons and servants we sent earlier were bustling around.

"It felt like it passed by in a flash."

"It was one way. But for , it was a long journey since it's rare for to travel for this many days."

Didier stretched and gathered the servants. We all walked toward the castle together.

Straight to the conversation room, Dior was unusually running around, moving back and forth busily inside the room.

"We're back, Mother."

"Welco back, safely, I hope. Where's Sir Sergio?"

"He'll be here soon..."

Before finishing his sentence, Dior found sothing behind us and swiftly walked toward it.

When I turned around, Sergio stood there with outstretched arms, wearing a broad smile.

"Oh, I missed you, Dior! We're back!"

"What do you an?! I haven't heard anything!"

"W-What are you talking about...?"

It seed Sergio had done sothing again. There were too many possibilities for to guess what had upset Dior.

"Did you do sothing unnecessary at the palace?! A noble prisoner has escaped and seems to be heading this way. Escaping from that tower without soone's help is impossible. It must be the palace's doing!"

"Hmm, perhaps it's because you declined the engagent?"

"While those annoying engagent docunts have arrived, they wouldn't send a criminal just for that. What have you done?"

Ah, so it had beco annoying after all... But making a fuss over one escaped criminal seed exaggerated, right?

The news arrived just after we departed. It seed the escape occurred during the Blank Festival, and the investigation and communication were delayed.

"Well, I shouldn't have done anything at the palace, and it wasn't related to the underground auction or Gernika's support. Maybe it's related to the temple."

Dior sighed deeply while pressing her forehead. He seed to understand but hadn't resolved the issue.

"Is the escape of a prisoner that big of a problem?"

"Well, a bad person has been set loose in the world! Aren't you afraid, Sheriel?"

While it was true, I felt odd seeing Dior this upset. I half expected her to casually say, "Just dispose of them quickly."

"I understand it's a problem. But they'll be caught soon, right?"

"If they're heading from the capital here, they'll cross several territories. They can't use teleportation gates, so crossing territories by foot or horseback makes the search area too vast."

"Cooperation between territories doesn't seem easy. The knight and mage orders have ford a joint team, discreetly investigating as they head towards the Marquis of Beriard's territory. This news makes Sergio suddenly serious, crossing his arms.

"This doesn't bode well... So, who escaped? Why are they heading to Beriard?"

"We don't know. No matter how many tis we inquire, they refuse to disclose the prisoner's na or why they're headed here, citing it would cause confusion. That made us suspect palace involvent."

It seems like a shady situation. Given the Beriard family's history, it's not surprising soone holds a grudge against them.

"There seems to be sothing fishy. It's like being told to dispose of soone without knowing anything. It's a bit worriso, so shall we capture them alive? But the problem is the Mage Guild arriving. It would be great to resolve this before they arrive."

"Absolutely! Don't let them into Beriard's territory!"

From Sergio's worried expression and Dior's anger, it wasn't the right ti to ask who. They seem wary of the prisoner they're bringing and soone from the Mage Guild.

"Oh, is it the captain? Given their interest in my hair, I understand the hassle it would be to deal with that."

Although there's personal animosity, I'll ignore it completely as it could lead to trouble.

The prisoner probably won't infiltrate the castle. It's a story unrelated to . Didier and I sat on the bench, disengaging.